Mika Hakkinen SLAMS the rookie firing trend in Formula One

Red Bull is infamous for firing three young drivers in the span of three years.

Mika Hakkinen SLAMS the rookie firing trend in Formula One

(L-R) Mika Hakkinen, Nyck de Vries, and Alex Albon. (Credits: Crash.net, Sports Illustrated and Autosport)

Formula One is probably the most competitive open-wheel driving championship in the world. With the stakes through the roof for each of the participating teams, everyone wants a driver who can bring in profits for them. The current trend of the teams is on the same lines. If their rookie driver does not show promise within a season, he is straightaway fired. Former F1 driver Mika Hakkinen recently spoke out against this new trend that has been set in F1.

Hakkinen talked about his old days, stating how McLaren helped him grow when he first joined them. He said that the drivers had to pass a lot of tests and they grew in coalition with the team. Nowadays, everything is run on a simulator and the rookies don’t get the feel of racing in a real car all that much.

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“In general it is very difficult for young riders nowadays. There are no tests anymore, you just sit in the simulator and get judged on that. It is very difficult for young drivers to show that they are making progress and that they are getting really good,” Hakkinen is quoted by Formula Passion.

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While many such incidents have occurred in F1 history, the most recent one is Nyck de Vries getting fired from AlphaTauri. The 28-year-old was in his first season in F1 where he had hoped to eventually get promoted to Red Bull. But as fate would have it, he was sacked in just ten races by his bosses at Milton-Keynes.

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Mika Hakkinen gives a simple piece of advice to Mick Schumacher

Mick Schumacher
Mick Schumacher. (Credits: F1)

Alongside Nyck de Vries, Mick Schumacher is also an example of how a rookie is tossed aside if he does not perform within expectations in a short time. The German was fired from Haas after two seasons with them in 2023, as they replaced him with Nico Hulkenberg. Hakkinen recently advised Schumacher which might prove to be helpful to him.

Schumacher was taken in by Mercedes after his firing as their reserve driver. He must surely be looking to take his place back in F1, but limited time at the wheel is looking to be a big problem for him. Hakkinen recently advised Schumacher that, “Brake later and accelerate earlier.”

Schumacher has been recently linked with Williams racing for his comeback in 2024. While no official deal has been made, the German must surely be grappling for a seat in F1 to try and live up to his father’s legacy, Michael Schumacher.

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